Last Modified: Tuesday, March 26, 2013 at 1:10 p.m.

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During what is expected to be his final Upstate concert, Strait – who recently announced that his The Cowboy Rides Away tour will be the last major outing of his legendary career – gave an emotionally-charged performance at the Bi-Lo Center that was more of a rousing celebration than a tearful farewell.

Of course, that's not to say the proceedings were completely void of nostalgia and sentimentality. Indeed, some of the best moments were when the Texas native pulled up a stool and reminisced about his early days in Nashville and spoke appreciatively of the help he got from such songwriters as Dean Dillon and Darryl Staedler, whose songs he often recorded.

It was during this stretch of the concert that Strait sandwiched early 1980s hits such as "Marina Del Rey" and "A Fire I Can't Put Out" with an assortment of deep album cuts from the same period, including "Blame It On Mexico," "Her Goodbye Hit Me in the Heart," "80 Proof Bottle of Tear Stopper" and "Honky Tonky Crazy."

Not one song seemed too obscure for most of those in attendance, as they gleefully sang along with hits and non-hits alike.

Performing "in the round" on a stage set up in the middle of the arena, Strait delivered a couple of tunes, on a rotating basis, from each of four vantage points throughout the night.

After making his way on stage amid thunderous applause, Strait acknowledged his admirers with a few head nods and smiles before going into "Here for a Good Time," a No. 1 hit from 2011, and following it with "Oceanfront Property," a classic chart-topper from 1986.

Selections ranged from the playful ("Check Yes or No" and "How ‘Bout Them Cowgirls") to the plaintive ("I Saw God Today" and "Drinkin' Man").

Decked out in a contemporary western shirt and tight-fitting Wrangler jeans while also wearing a black cowboy hat and boots, Strait was his usual no-frills self on stage. Unlike most modern country acts, whose arena shows are filled with rock-like strobe lights and pyrotechnics, Strait and his 11-piece Ace in the Hole Band let their music serve as the primary source of entertainment.

For nearly two hours, Strait and company delighted the audience with a wide-ranging assortment of honky-tonk and neo-traditionalist favorites.

About halfway through the show, Strait brought up the name of former Due West resident Jim Lauderdale, who wrote some of Strait's biggest hits in the 1990s and 2000s.

Strait's voice was particularly impressive during "The King of Broken Hearts," which he followed with the hi-octane "Where the Sidewalk Ends." Both songs were penned by Lauderdale and included in the film, "Pure Country," in which Strait starred as a fictional country singer named Dusty Chandler.

A little later, Strait and a representative for the Military Warriors Support Foundation presented an Iraq War veteran and his wife with a ceremonial key to a new house donated via the Homes 4 Wounded Heroes program, at which point chants of "U.S.A.! U.S.A.!" echoed through the rafters.

Strait then slyly launched into his 2006 No. 1 hit, "Give It Away," which he followed with a sparkling rendition of a Jerry Lee Lewis chestnut, "Middle Age Crazy," and his own iconic 1983 hit "Amarillo by Morning."

After performing his latest chart-climbing hit, "Give It All We Got Tonight," Strait offered a career-reflective ode to his fans called "I'll Always Remember You" and wrapped things up with his 2008 hit, "Troubadour," and his first hit single from 1981, "Unwound."

Having exited the stage to near-deafening applause from the crowd, Strait and his band mates returned moments later for four more songs. "Some Kind of Crazy" was followed by his Western swing classic "All My Ex's Live in Texas" and a rollicking rendition of Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues."

Martina McBride was scheduled as the opening act, but as concertgoers entered the venue, they were informed that the country music superstar had fallen ill and would not perform.

So, it was a bit of surprise to see McBride take the stage. She immediately let the crowd know that she would only perform for a short while and promised to make it up to them at another time.

Even though she sounded better than most vocalists do at their peak, it was obvious that McBride was struggling to get through the four songs she sang. At various points, starting with her opening selection, "Wild Angels," McBride held her microphone out to the audience and asked for their help.

After finishing "The Way That I Am," she seemed genuinely apologetic about the unforeseen circumstance. "This has only happened once before in my whole career," McBride said of not being able to perform her entire set.

But, to her credit, she soldiered on for two more songs, even playing harmonica on "Love's the Only House" before closing with "This One's for the Girls."

George Strait set list:

1. Here for a Good Time

2. Oceanfront Property

3. Check Yes or No

4. I Saw God Today

5. Drinkin' Man

6. Love's Gonna Make It Alright

7. Arkansas Dave

8. The Fireman

9. Blame It On Mexico

10. Her Goodbye Hit Me in the Heart

11. 80 Proof Bottle of Tear Stopper

12. Honky Tonky Crazy

13. Marina Del Rey

14. A Fire I Can't Put Out

15. The King of Broken Hearts

16. Where the Sidewalk Ends

17. The Chair

18. River of Love

19. How ‘Bout Them Cowgirls

20. Give It Away

21. Middle Age Crazy

22. Amarillo By Morning

23. Give It All We Got Tonight

24. I'll Always Remember You

25. Troubadour

26. Unwound

Encore

27. Same Kind of Crazy

28. All My Ex's Live in Texas

29. Folsom Prison Blues

30. The Cowboy Rides Away

Martina McBride set list:

1. Wild Angels

2. The Way That I Am

3. Love's the Only House

4. This One's for the Girls

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